I understand that as a small business owner it can be overwhelming trying to stay up-to-date with digital marketing. And, while you understand the importance of being online, all your efforts to be found online by your target customers may be falling short. You’ve probably tried it all: SEO, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, blogging and email. The truth of the matter is that it all does work, but it takes time - it’s a long-term investment and timely commitment, something you probably don’t have the luxury of as a small business owner. I hear you - you need results now, with minimal cost and time.
Don’t tear your hair out just yet! If you’re tired of seeing little to no results for your marketing efforts, you’ve found the perfect guide right here. I’ve been working with small business for almost 10 years in the digital marketing space, I understand your frustration. There are many free and paid resources available to help small business get found online, but too much information can be confusing or overwhelming. That’s why I created a guide specifically for small business. I know small business owners need an easy to understand resource to help them create and implement an effective marketing strategy that will help their buyers find them online. Sound good? Let’s get started.
What is the Inbound Marketing Methodology?
You’ve probably heard about inbound marketing but perhaps you aren’t sure exactly what it means. Essentially, the purpose of inbound marketing is to understand your buyers and what they’re looking for, then publishing content and offers that will attract them to your business. Simple!
1. Understanding Your Buyers
Before you started your business, you probably did some research to make sure there are people who would buy your product or service. So now the question is, how can you make sure these people can find you?
The first step in attracting buyers is understanding what’s important to them. What are their pain points and what’s important to them at each step of the buying process? This insight will help you tailor your marketing efforts to your buyers, and attract them to your business.
To understand your buyers create a Buyer’s Persona. This is the process of identifying the attitudes and behaviours of your buyers, their pain points and why they need your product or service. By creating buyer personas, you are then able to market your business to the specific needs of prospective customers, where you’ll be able to connect with them and communicate on a more personal level.
2. Create the Content They’re Looking for
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to getting found online by your target audience is by creating thoughtful, educational and relevant content for your buyers. What am I talking about? Yes, I’m talking about blogging. Now I know the prospect of blogging has caused many a small business owner to break out in an anxious sweat, but the truth is it has become one of the most effective ways to market to your buyers. Did you know marketers who blog are 13x more likely to receive positive ROI? Or that 1 in 10 blog posts are compounding, which means your organic traffic will continue to grow over time. The point is, regular blogging is vital for helping you get found online.